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I had been optimistic. I had believed that our leaders in Washington would see the 2012 election results for what they were - a multitude of conflicting data points - and come to the conclusion that a "fiscal cliff" compromise - any compromise - would serve their political interests more than partisan stridency and policy gridlock.

I had thought that President Obama realized that he needed to craft more than a partisan legacy, and that he feared going down in history as the Democratic version of President George W. Bush - another divider, not a uniter.

I had believed that Speaker Boehner realized that while Americans want Republicans to stop Washington’s runaway spending, they don’t want them to stop all policy-making, and that he feared the GOP’s party brand was becoming synonymous with “No.”

Generally, I had thought that most of those in Washington now understood that come 2014 substantial political benefits would accrue to those incumbents who would be able to claim credit for promoting some grand bi-partisan bargain. Both sides would fight like “Black Friday” shoppers, trying to beat the opposition, while spinning that they were the ones responsible for establishing economic certainty in the markets, restoring fiscal sanity to the budget, and averting the impending crises in the nation’s entitlement programs.

Even though some last minute deal may well happen, given all the partisan posturing these last two weeks, it’s evident that my hopes were too high for our current political class. These days, it seems that our elected officials can’t even figure out what’s in their own political interest (e.g., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell just filibustered his own bill). Quite frankly, this endemic ineptness is also why so many have recently failed, why Americans think so little of these politicians, and why none of them will ever be Lincoln.

Harry Truman said it best: “A statesman is a dead politician.” For those hoping to create a political legacy, here's what that means.

First, stop trying to be a celebrity. You aren’t a Kardashian. You weren’t sent to Washington to generate fascination and foster notoriety. Your job is to make sure that the American people don’t have to spend their time engaging in politics and worrying about our government. Their job is improving their lives - work, family, and community - not focusing on you and your every "brilliant" move.

Second, the public mood has been for some time “bi-polar,” not “bi-partisan.” The people's support is up for grabs and if your party does “good by them,” then you may well earn their votes in 2014. The 2012 exit polls showed that there were six percent more Democrats than Republicans in the electorate, yet Obama only won by about 3.5 percent of the vote. Along with Republicans, he lost those who identify as Independents. Like George W. Bush, Obama’s got his party behind him, but not much else. Further, despite voting for Obama’s reelection, the majority of the electorate said both that the government is doing too much (51 percent) and that the nation is on the wrong track (52 percent). Your job is to woo people to your side, not get them simply to find you less reprehensible than the other side. Practice courtship. Sweep them off their feet.

Taking a longer view, remember that the Framers’ structured our political system so that a faction (a party) would need to win three elections in a row (six years) before they would be able to enact their full governance vision. No party has won three elections in a row since 1992. That should tell you: (1) you’re on thin ice, and (2) distrust is widespread. Take small steps and achieve consistent results. Stop looking for a slam dunk. You’re missing free throws.

Politics is the art of the possible, not the brute force of a tyrant. If you can’t learn these lessons, then you might want to be prepared for a challenge from Daniel Day Lewis.

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